About those "Daygo Bombs"...

[jberryhill]

A while back, I mentioned the offense of maintaining a "bawdy house" as such a thing is defined in a state statute I was citing.

With the 4th of July coming and a weird combinations of laws in DE and PA, I have gotten my Delaware Fireworks Permit ready.

What is a Delaware Fireworks Permit? It is a $100 bill - the prescribed fine for the use of fireworks in Delaware.

Where do you get the fireworks? Why in Pennsylvania of course. Due to a bizarre drafting quirk of PA law, which has now become a multi-million dollar business, the state of Pennsylvania bans the sale of fireworks to Pennsylvania residents.

Because of that PA law, fireworks of any kind can be sold in PA to non-residents of PA. So, dotting the major roads into PA there are huge fireworks stores. To enter, you show them your driver's license showing that you are NOT a PA resident, and you can legally purchase fireworks in the store. The "good stuff".

Now, yes, the DE state police keep an eye on the traffic going in and out of there, and pull people over at the border if they are dumb enough to pull onto I-95 from that exit and enter the state. If you take other roads, or had another errand in PA anyway, you won't fall into the fireworks trap on I-95.

But, aside from having a $100 bill handy if you get caught setting them off, it is important to know just what, exactly, in Delaware, constitutes "fireworks".

The Delaware fireworks law is one of those lovely exercises in what lawyers call "enumeration". For lack of doubt as to any particular thing that might, or might not, be "fireworks" we have a helpful definition:

-------
§ 6901 Selling or possessing fireworks; exceptions.

No person shall store, sell, offer or expose for sale, or have in possession with intent to sell or to use, discharge or cause to be discharged, ignited, fired or otherwise set in action within this State, any fireworks, firecrackers, rockets, sparklers, torpedoes, Roman candles, fire balloons or other fireworks or substances of any combination whatsoever designed or intended for pyrotechnic display except after having obtained a permit as provided in § 6903 of this title and also except as provided in § 6906 of this title. This section shall not apply to any person established and manufacturing fireworks of any or all kinds in this State on September 5, 1939.

The term "fireworks," as used in this chapter, shall mean and include any combustible or explosive composition, or any substance or combination of substances, or article prepared for the purpose of producing a visible or an audible effect by combustion, explosion, deflagration or detonation and shall include blank cartridges, toy pistols, toy cannons, toy canes or toy guns in which explosives are used, the type of balloons which require fire underneath to propel the same, firecrackers, torpedoes, skyrockets, Roman candles, Daygo bombs, sparklers or other fireworks of like construction and any fireworks containing any explosive or flammable compound, or any caps or tablets or other device containing any explosive substance, except that the term "fireworks" shall not include toy pistols, toy canes, toy guns or other devices in which paper caps manufactured in accordance with the United States Interstate Commerce Commission regulations for packing and shipping of toy paper caps are used and toy pistol paper caps manufactured as provided therein, the sale and use of which shall be permitted at all times.
------

Now, I read this damn thing every year, just to see if it was amended, and I'd like to know whether I would be correct in understanding that "Daygo Bomb" includes an ethnic slur?

The reason I wonder is that one of the "favorite cases every lawyer knows" from first year law school is Palsgraf v. Long Island Railroad Co. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palsgraf_v._Long_Island_Railroad_Co.). To make an unduly long story short, Ms. Palsgraf was apparently injured in an unclear chain of events which happened as she was standing on a train platform and:

"Plaintiff was standing on a platform of defendant's railroad after buying a ticket to go to Rockaway Beach. A train stopped at the station, bound for another place. Two men ran forward to catch it. One of the men reached the platform of the car without mishap, though the train was already moving. The other man, carrying a package, jumped aboard the car, but seemed unsteady as if about to fall. A guard on the car, who had held the door open, reached forward to help him in, and another guard on the platform pushed him from behind. In this act, the package was dislodged, and fell upon the rails. It was a package of small size, about fifteen inches long, and was covered by a newspaper. In fact it contained fireworks, but there was nothing in its appearance to give notice of its contents. The fireworks when they fell exploded. The shock of the explosion threw down some scales at the other end of the platform, many feet away. The scales struck the plaintiff, causing injuries for which she sues."

Now, quite frankly no fireworks were going to knock down scales at the other end of the platform. My personal theory is that she reacted in fright, and probably fell into the scales or caused them to fall onto her.

But, in any event, while not reflected in the appellate decision, both the trial transcript and newspaper reports at the time were careful to note:

"The police surmised that the three men, who disappeared, were Italians 'bound for an Italian celebration somewhere on Long Island, where fireworks and bombs were to play an important role.'"

Now, remember, this was 1928, and the spectre of Italians going about the boroughs of New York with "bombs" for some sort of "Italian celebration" makes the inquiring mind wonder if these were not merely celebratory Italians, with their usual complement of bombs, but whether there was perhaps something more sinister afoot.

Be that as it may, the apparently well-known hazards of Romans, Venetians or, dare I add, of course in sotto voce, Sicilians, going about the countryside with bombs was apparently considered a real threat at some point in Delaware.

And, to make sure we know who we meant, the Delaware legislature made sure to call them "Daygo bombs" to remove all doubt.

I hope, some day, now that we can buy the "good stuff" at the border, my state gets around to updating the list....

But until then, I will avoid the "Daygo bombs" and pick me up a mess of lady fingers, fuzz buttles, snicker bombs, church burners, finger blasters, gut busters, zippity do das, crap flappers, whistlin' bungholes, spleen splitters, whisker biscuits, honkey lighters, hoosker doos, hoosker don'ts, cherry bombs, nipsy daisers, with or without the scooter stick, and a whistlin' kitty chaser.

Have fun. Be safe.

Light fuse. Get away. Use only under adult supervision. Close cover before striking.

[Laxman]

1. Since The 4th of July Is Comining......

while I don't buy it, Jean Shepherd comes to the conclusion that the term "Dago Bomb" is complementary. Nonetheless, the tale of Ludlow Kissel's 4th of July adventures is worth listening to.

[ProfessorGAC]

2. Meh!

I'm Sicilian descent and that word has lost any insulting overtone to me. It's just another word about a nationality that has long ago integrated into white america.

[Laxman]

3. Doesn't Bother Me Much Either....

Last edited Wed Jul 1, 2015, 10:20 AM - Edit history (1)

professor, but I don't believe it was a "complementary" name for the firework. I certainly don't let it detract from enjoying the drunken exploits of Mr. Kissel.

[ProfessorGAC]

4. Fair Enough!

You're right. There's a big difference between "not really an insult anymore" and a compliment.

Don't think it was ever used as a compliment.

[jberryhill]

5. I'm just surprised it would find its way into a statute

At first, I thought it might have been a brand name or something.

Still, it's not hard for the legislature to clean up these things every now and then.

[ProfessorGAC]

8. Yeah, You're Right!

It doesn't belong in a statute. Just because it doesn't insult me, doesn't mean it's not an insult.

[MH1]

6. Too bad they're REALLY crappy for the environment, whatever you call them.

http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/translating-uncle-sam/stories/are-fireworks-bad-for-the-environment

The rockets' red glare during a fireworks show can fill onlookers with patriotism and awe. Unfortunately, it can also fill them with particulates and aluminum.
Fireworks get their flamboyance from a variety of chemicals, many of which are toxic to humans. From the gunpowder that fuels their flight to the metallic compounds that color their explosions, fireworks often contain carcinogenic or hormone-disrupting substances that can seep into soil and water, not to mention the lung-clogging smoke they release and plastic debris they scatter.

...
What we do know is that, although they're fleeting and infrequent, fireworks shows spray out a toxic concoction that rains down quietly into lakes, rivers and bays throughout the country. Many of the chemicals in fireworks are also persistent in the environment, meaning they stubbornly sit there instead of breaking down. That's how mercury from coal emissions winds up in fish, and it's how DDT thinned bald eagles' eggshells in the '70s. There's scant evidence that fireworks are having similar effects, but the possibility has been enough to raise concern in many communities.

For more, lots more:

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=fireworks%20environmental%20issues


They also scare pets and who knows what they do to wildlife like birds. I know I don't appreciate all the unscheduled fireworks that happen around certain times of year, especially July 4. The scheduled ones are bad enough.

[oneshooter]

7. Daygo bomb

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Dago+Bomb
Top Definition
Dago Bomb
A dago bomb is just a big firecracker that explodes in the sky. At comercial displays, this firework usually has a bright tail on its way up. It explodes with a bright white flash and a shockwave that backs up its impressive sound. Dago Bombs are now illegal in most or all states without a permit. Somewhat similar (though larger) to the M-80 or Cherry Bomb. Dago Bombs have an explosive power high enough to destroy or heavily damage almost anything that it is detonated near.

May Also Spelled ( Diego or Daygo ) Bombs.
Back when I was a yout my crazy friend Jason light a dago bomb with his cigarette while in his living room, walked to his front door and threw it outside in the middle of the front lawn. seven seconds later there was a huge BOOM that left a crater in the snow about a foot deep and five feet in diameter. that crazy bastard!!
by tECHNOtODD_CT September 27, 2010

[cherokeeprogressive]

9. I live in a National Forest in the throes of a 30,000+ acre wildfire. FUCK your $100 bill.

I sincerely hope it costs you more than that.

[jberryhill]

10. Good golly

It's a joke. I have a very skittish dog and don't set off fireworks at all.

Yeah, um, I intend to break the law, so I'm going to announce it on DU. Yeah, I do that all of the time.

The point of the piece is about an ethnic slur embedded in a piece of state law.

Yeesh.

[cherokeeprogressive]

12. Yeah, I'm overly sensitive I guess.

Even with the fire still burning there are already citiots here for the 4th lighting fireworks in residential neighborhoods. Illegal fireworks.

Humor me.

[msanthrope]

11. This Sicilian appreciates the respect of the sotto.

I'm betting it was the Feast of San Gennaro......that's what the Dago bombs were for.